Copolymers of 4-fluoro benzyl methacrylate and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate: Reactivity ratios, thermal properties, biologial activity, and semi-conducting properties

Abstract

A new methacrylate monomer 4-fluorobenzyl methacrylate (FBM) was synthesized and its radical copolymerization with 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was studied in 1,4-dioxane solution at 65°C using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The synthesized monomer and copolymers were characterized by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The analysis of reactivity ratios revealed that FBM is less reactive than DMAEMA, and copolymers formed are statistically in nature. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers reveals that the thermal stability of the copolymers increases with an increasing in the mole fraction of FBM in the copolymers. Glass transition temperatures of the copolymers decreased with an increasing in the mole fraction of FBM in the copolymers. The polymers exhibit the semiconducting behavior, and the electrical conductivity increases with increasing both of the temperature and DMAEMA content in copolymer.